Wall collapsible table and bench ensemble



Feb. 1, 1966 H. A. JANKE 3,232,663

WALL COLLAPSIBLE TABLE AND BENCH ENSEMBLE Filed May *7, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 fl g .2.

7/ INVENTOR. HAROLD A. JAN/ 5 BY HTTURNEY United States Patent 3,232,663 WALL COLLAPSIBLE TABLE AND BENCH ENSEMBLE Harold A. Janke, 322 W. 77th St., New York, N-Y. Filed May 7, 1964, Sen-No. 365,656 9 Claims. (Cl. 297147) This invention relates to a table and bench ensemble or combination, wherein the several components are normally collapsible flatly upon the surface of a wall and then extendable with respect thereto when in use in forming an elongated table with a pair of benches disposed at sides of the table. More particularly, the invention deals with a structure of the character defined, wherein the same can be utilized in various rooms or enclosures, such as a porch, for providing, as and when required, a service or work table and seating facilities therefor when in extended use position and, wherein, the entire assemblage can be collapsed flatly upon a wall, from which the assemblage is extended.

The novel features of the invention will be best understood from the following description, when taken together with the accompanying drawing, in which certain embodiments of the invention are disclosed and, in which, the separate parts are designated by suitable reference characters in each of the views and, in which:

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic face view of a table and bench ensemble as arranged in collapsed position on a wall and omitting detail showing of hinges and the like.

FIG. 2 is a view, similar to FIG. 1, showing the table and benches in extended use position, with part of the construction broken away and in section.

FIG. 3 is a partial sectional view through a wall and flooring adjacent the wall showing a side elevation of the table and bench ensemble in extended use postion, with parts of the construction broken away and in section and indicating, in dotted lines, the collapsed position of part of the construction, the frame of FIG. 1 being omitted in FIG. 3.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged detail view of part of the construction shown in FIG. 3, with part of the construction broken away and in section; and

FIG. 5 is an enlarged sectional view on the line 55 of FIG. 2 showing the table support in collapsed position upon the table, with the bracing means in collapsed position between the table and table support.

In illustrating one adaptation and use of my invention and considering FIG. 1 of the drawing, represents a wall of a room or enclosure and 11 represents a floor adjacent the wall 19. At 12 is showna bordering frame mounted on the wall and comprising spaced side members 13 joined at the upper end in a crosshead 14. While the frame 12 is not absolutely essential, it is desirable from the standpoint of producing a neat and finished appearance, particularly at sides of the table and bench ensemble arranged in collapsed position on the wall 10 within the frame. The ensemble comprises a table 15 and side benches 16 and, as each bench is of the same construction, the brief description of one bench will apply to both benches.

In order to maintain a relatively flat surface for the major part of the ensemble, I provide at the lower edge of the table 15 a table supporting member or panel 17 fixed to the wall 10 and, in like manner, I provide below each of the benches an inner bench supporting member or panel 18 fixed to the wall 10. The table 15 is hinged to the upper edge of the support 17, as diagrammatically seen at 19 in FIG. 3 of the drawing. In this connection, detail showings of the hinges, for the most part, will be omitted, as the hinge structures will be well known to those skilled in the art. The benches 16, in like man- 3,232,663 Patented Feb. 1, 1956 ner, are hinged to the upper edges of the support 18, as seen at 20 in FIG. 3. Hinged centrally to the upper end portion of the table 15 is a table support member or panel 21 which, in the construction shown, is in the form of an oblong rectangular frame. This hinge coupling is illustrated somewhat in detail at 22 in FIG. 2 of the drawing, the hinges being so arranged that the upper edge 23 of the member 21 will be arranged upon the lower surface of the table 15 when in its extended use position, as diagrammatically illustrated in FIG. 3 of the drawing.

Considering FIG. 2 of the drawing, it will appear that inner edge portions of the frame member 21 are recessed, as seen at 24, to facilitate mounting of a panel, such as a mirror, picture or the like within the rectangular frame to provide an attractive appearance when the ensemble is in the collapsed position on the wall, as illustrated in FIG. 1 of the drawing.

The member 21 is braced on the table by a brace linkage, comprising pairs of links 25 pivoted in recessed portions 26 of the table 15, as seen at 27 in FIGS. 3 and 5 of the drawing. Another pair of links 28 are pivoted to the links 25, as seen at 29, the links 28 being pivoted in recessed portions 30 of the side rails of the member 21, as seen at 31, so that, in the collapsed position of the member 21, the brace linkage will be fully collapsed within and between adjacent surfaces of 21 and the table 15.

The forward or free end portions of both benches are supported by end supports or panel 32 hinged to the benches, as diagrammatically seen at 33. I also provide means for bracing the benches, including the supports 32, to retain the same in extended use position, as well as to provide added supports for the benches. Considering FIGS. 3 and 4 of the drawing, the bracing means as applied to both sides of the benches and their supports 32 is shown in this one detail illustration. The bracing means at the inner end portion of the benches comprises pairs of fiat brace rods 34, pivoted as seen at 35, in recessed sides 36 of the benches, note FIG. 3. The other end portions of the rods 34 have pins 37 slidably mounted in channeled strips 38 secured to side surfaces of the supports 18. Similar pairs of brace rods 39 are pivoted, as seen at 40, in recessed sides 41 at the forward end portion of the benches, the rods 39 carrying, at their ends, pins 42 operating in channeled strips 43 secured to side surfaces of the outer bench supports 32.

Considering FIG. 4 of the drawing, here is shown in enlarged detail the lower end portion of one of the supports 32 with the channelled strip 43 suitably secured thereto. The securing means is omitted for sake of simplicity. It will be noted that the pivot pin 42 has an inner head portion, shown, in part, at 44 in FIG. 4 of the drawing, which operates in a recessed portion 32 on the surface of 32 partially covered by the channelled strip 43. The broken away portion of the rod 39 has been made to illustrate the slight offset 43' in the channel of the strip 43 to form a partial lock in retention of the rods 39 in operative position. It will be understood that similar constructions are provided in the pivotal coupling of 34 with the strips 38.

Considering FIG. 3 of the drawing, it will appear that the length of the table 15 is slightly greater in length than the length of each of the benches 16. Also noting FIG. 2 of the drawing, it will be apparent that the width of the member 21 is materially less than the width of the table 15. Thus, ample room is provided for gaining access to the benches 16 at the outer ends of the benches. The benches, in the construction shown, are each adapted to receive two people and the table is made proportionately long and wide enough to utilize the same, for example, in a kitchen to form a service table for eating. However,

it will be understood that ensembles of the type and kind under consideration can be made to accommodate simply two people or for groups of six people, assuming that the height of the room or enclosure in which the ensemble is used is sufficient to provide for full collapse of the ensemble upon the face of the wall, in connection with which the same is mounted.

When in raised collapsed position, the frame 12 can provide suitable manually operated means, as diagrammatically seen by the pins 45 extending into apertures in end portions of the table 15 and bench supports 32. This securing means, however, can be of any type and kind of construction but would be easily operable by the user of the ensemble. When in collapsed, as shown in FIG. 1, the various parts of the ensemble are contained within the environment of the frame 12, with the exception of the frame member 21'.

Ensembles of the type and kind under consideration can be used very practically in small kitchens where it is desirable to provide what is generally referred to as a breakfast nook, as well as providing in the kitchen a service table which, alone, can be moved into extended position, with the benches retained in their collapsed position upon the wall. Further, ensembles of the kind under consideration can be used as work and play tables in any room of the home or on porch or other enclosuresand, in fact, in satisfying any service, such as a work table or play table. Keeping in mind the latter, ensembles of the kind under consideration can be commercially used in various types and kinds of buildings or establishments, particuiarly where it is desirable to keep the ensemble in a collapsed position on a wall, so as to have full use of the floor surface and still provide for extending the ensemble into use position as and when desired. From this standpoint, the size and contour of the various parts of the ensemble can be modified to suit the particular end desired.

In addition to utilizing the frame member 21 as a picture or a mirror support, it will be understood that the exposed surfaces of the ensemble, including the bordering frame 12, can be decorated by painting or otherwise, consistent with or in harmony with the decorations or painting as applied on the exposed surface of the Wall 10, so as to produce a neat and attractive appearance when in its collapsed position. On the other hand, the upper surfaces of the table and benches may have any type and kind of surfacing suitable for their respective uses. Whatever facings are employed, particularly if they are enlarged With respect to the thicknesses diagrammatically shown, the wall 14 would be formed to receive the thicknesses of the parts, or the frame can be made sutficiently thick to receive the thicknesses of the benches and table, as constructed.

It will be apparent that the wall 10, as diagrammatically shown, can be a support of any type and kind which does not necessarily constitute a boundary wall of a room. For example, in some types of kitchens, divider wall structures are employed dividing one area of the kitchen from another and, from this standpoint, the divider wall may be considered more as a support than a wall structure.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A table and bench ensemble of the character defined, said ensemble being normally collapsible upon the surface of a support, the ensemble including a table and at least one bench, means including a panel fixed to the support hingedly coupling one end portion of the table, means including a panel fixed to the support hingedly supporting one end portion of the bench, frame means hingedly coupled with the free end portion of the table for support of the free end portion of the table when in extended use position, panel means hingedly supported in connection with the free end portion of the bench for supp Qf t bench when in extended use position, and means for re taining the table and bench in collapsed edge to edge alined position upon the surface of the support and in alinernent with the panels of the first and second named means.

2. An ensemble as defined in claim 1, wherein means is employed for bracing the table in connection with the third named means.

3. An ensemble as defined in claim 2, wherein means is employed for bracing the bench in connection with the fourth named means.

4. An ensemble as defined in claim 3, wherein means is employed for bracing the bench in connection with the panel of the second named means.

5. An ensemble as defined in claim 4, wherein both of the bench bracing means comprise pairs of rods pivotally coupled with sides of the bench and siidably coupled with the second and fourth named means.

6. An ensemble as defined in claim 1, wherein said frame means includes a panel mounted within the environment thereof.

7. An ensemble as defined in claim 1, wherein means comprising pairs of links are employed for bracing the frame means in connection with the free end portion of the table, and the frame means and table being recessed to-receive said links in the collapsed position of the frame means on said table.

8. A table and bench ensemble of the character defined, said ensemble being normally collapsible upon the surface of a supporting wall, the ensemble including a table and a pair of similar benches disposed at opposite sides of the table, means including a panel fixed to the wall hingedly supporting one end portion of the table, means including a panel fixed to the wall hingedly supporting one end portion of each of the benches, frame means hingedly coupled with the free end portion of the table for support of the free end portion of the table when in extended use position, panel means hingedly supported in connection with the free end portion of each of the benches for support of the benches when in extended use position, a frame bordering the benches and table when in collapsed position on the surface of said wall, and means in said last named frame operatively engaging the table and said fourth named means for support of the table and benches in alined collapsed position on the surface of the wall, within the environment of said frame, and with the table and benches in alinement with the first and second named means.

9. An ensemble as defined in claim 8, wherein means is employed for bracing the table in connection with the third named means, and means for bracing the forward and rear end portions of both of said benches.

References Cited by the Examiner FRANK B. SHERRY, Primary Examiner.

J. T. MCCALL, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A TABLE AND BENCH ENSEMBLE OF THE CHARACTER DEFINED, SAID ENSEMBLE BEING NORMALLY COLLAPSIBLE UPON THE SURFACE OF A SUPPORT, THE ENSEMBLE INCLUDING A TABLE AND AT LEAST ONE BENCH, MEANS INCLUDING A PANEL FIXED TO THE SUPPORT HINGEDLY COUPLING ONE END PORTION OF THE TABLE, MEANS INCLUDING A PANEL FIXED TO THE SUPPORT HINGEDLY SUPPORTING ONE END PORTION OF THE BENCH, FRAME MEANS HINGEDLY COUPLED WITH THE FREE END PORTION OF THE TABLE FOR SUPPORT OF THE FREE END PORTION OF THE TABLE WHEN IN EXTENDED USE POSITION, PANEL MEANS HINGEDLY SUPPORTED IN CONNECTION WITH THE FREE END PORTION OF THE BENCH FOR SUPPORT OF THE BENCH WHEN IN EXTENDED USE POSITION, AND MEANS FOR RETAINING THE TABLE AND BENCH IN COLLAPSED EDGE TO EDGE ALINED POSITION UPON THE SURFACE OF THE SUPPORT AND IN ALINEMENT WITH THE PANELS OF THE FIRST AND SECOND NAMED MEANS. 